Steve
Thorne
Music is a very imprortant
part of my life. It accompanies me almost everywhere, so when it comes
to it I'm very picky. I want the music I listen to to be imbued with emotions.
Now if the lyrics have also got something to say, this is even better and
more satisfying for me. Actually, that's the case with "Emotional Creatures".
So, read below our interview with Steve Thorne who proved to be an honest
and insightful man.
1. HELLO STEVE! HOW ARE YOU? YOUR DEBUT ALBUM
IS REALLY A VERY BEAUTIFUL AND ARTISTIC WORK, BUT BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT
IT, PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO THE READERS OF THIS WEBZINE.
I'd like to say Hi to everyone, My name is
Steve Thorne. I am a singer/songwriter from Southampton England.
2. YOUR ALBUM CARRIES THE TITLE “EMOTIONAL CREATURES”,
WHICH IS REALLY NICE AND YET VERY INTRIGUING AS A TITLE. WHAT EXACTLY DO
YOU WANT TO SUGGEST WITH THAT?
With the title, I am basically suggesting
that we are all emotional creatures, with individual lives and our own
journeys to travel.
3. THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE THAT HAVEN’T LISTENED
TO YOUR MUSIC YET, SO IMAGINE THAT YOU HAVE TO WRITE A SHORT DESCRIPTION
OF IT, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE IT?
I try to write lyrics with meaning.... I want
poeple to aknowledge and contemplate various issues. The melody is very
important to me.... it has to create the right atmospehre musically to
enhance the lyrics.
4. IN MY OPINION YOUR MUSIC IS VERY EMOTIONAL.
IS THAT WHAT YOU WANTED TO ACHIEVE IN THE FIRST PLACE? ARE THERE TIMES
THAT YOU HAD TO SACRIFICE TECHNICAL PARTS IN ORDER TO CREATE A BEAUTIFUL
AND SIMPLE MELODY?
Thanks for saying that..... and yes, there
is a lot of emotion in my songwriting. Music to me is purely about depth
of emotion.... if other poeple find it emotional, then I have acheived
what I set out to do. As to the question of technical sacrifice.... sometimes
it is important to retain the "feel" of a piece of music... it is tempting
to use all the technology out there, but a lot of the time, it is sensible
to keep things as near to the original idea as possible. The vocals are
paramount...all else is secondry, which means in order to keep the vocal
feel throughout, you sometimes lose some nice sounds or instrument parts.
5. IN YOUR ALBUM SOME WELL KNOWN MUSICIANS PARTICIPATE.
CAN YOU TELL US WHO THEY ARE AND IN WHICH SONGS OF THIS ALBUM THEY MAKE
THEIR APPEARANCE?
All the musicians that feature are as important
as each other to me... of course some are a little better known then others...
Tony Levin for instance is known for so many things.... namely Peter Gabriel
band...(who I am a massive fan of by the way) as well as King Crimson and
his own Tony Levin band. Tony plays on "Well Outta That" and "Every Second
Counts"...which is an instrumental that heavily features Tony's trademark
stick bass. Nick D'Virgilio is of course the drummer with Spocks Beard...well
drummer and front man....He's a very talented guy that can just about play
any instrument that is handed to him. He plays the drums for me on "Ten
Years", "Last Line" and "Julia". He has a very "Phil Collins" approach
to playing, with tons of adrenaline on top. Geoff Downes (Asia, Yes and
Buggles ) plays the Hammond Organ on one track, but he has contributed
considerably more to the second album.
6. IN THIS RELEASE YOU HAVE ALSO A POLITICAL SONG
ENTITLED “GOD BLESS AMERICA”. IN AN ERA THAT MOST OF THE ROCK/HEAVY METAL
BANDS ARE AFRAID OF EXPRESSING THEIR POLITICAL BELIEFS, YOU DID IT VERY
CLEARLY AND OPENLY IN THIS SONG WITH A TASTE OF HUMOR ALSO. DID SOMEONE
ADVICE YOU NOT TO INCLUDE THIS SPECIFIC SONG IN THIS ALBUM?
"God Bless America" did raise a few eyebrows
and the original lyrics were slightly more cutting then the recorded version...so
I did tone it down a bit. I am glad you noted the humour.... although the
subject is serious, it was meant to be taken light heartedly. No-one advised
me to omit it from the album, tho I wouldn't have taken the advice if they
had.
7. DO YOU THINK THAT SINCE PEOPLE IN THE WESTERN
SOCIETIES LACK OF AN INTEREST IN THE POLITICS THAT MIGHT HELP SOME PEOPLE
IN HIGH PLACES DO WHATEVER THEY WANT? TO MAKE IT SIMPLER, DO YOU BELIEVE
THAT DEMOCRACY IN OUR CIVILIZED WORLD IS IN DANGER?
I must answer yes to both parts of that question.
I think what you've said is obvious to any free-thinking and inquisitive
person. Where will it all end? is more the question.
8. ENOUGH WITH THE POLITICS, LETS GET BACK TO
THE MUSIC. WITH THE PROMO OF YOUR DEBUT RELEASE I RECEIVED ALSO A CARD
WHICH SAYS THAT THE SECOND PART OF “EMOTIONAL CREATURES” WILL BE OUT SOON.
SO WHEN DO YOU PLAN TO RELEASE IT?
"Emotional Creatures Part 2" is due for release
late February early March 2007. I have been quite busy playing recently...
and will soon be opening for the It Bites UK tour, so I will try to finish
the mixing when I return from that.
9. I BELIEVE THAT BOTH ALBUMS ARE READY (PART
I AND II). CAN YOU TELL ME WHICH THE DIFFERENCES AND THE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN
THEM ARE?
Part 2 is a continuation of the first album.
I wanted to make a double album, however as this was my debut.... you can
imagine trying to convince a record company to advance enough recording
costs to cover a double, so I have had to make it this way... in two parts.
Part 2 is a lot darker then part one... I would say that Part 1 is more
feminine in feel whereas Part 2 is more masculine.
10. SINCE YOU PLAY ROCK MUSIC, WHICH ARE THE THINGS
THAT YOU LIKE AND DISLIKE IN THE MODERN ROCK SCENE AND WHY?
I like many types of music and do not exclusively
favour any particular genre. The age we live is producing some amazing
music from many different areas. The modern rock scene has some great music
and some not so great.... at the end of the day, it's the listener that
dictates what is or isn't successful.
11. THIS IS A SILLY QUESTION, BUT I FEEL THE URGE
TO ASK IT. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT HEAVY METAL MUSIC? WILL YOU EVER CONSIDER
WRITING A METAL SONG OR IS IT OUT OF THE QUESTION?
Some heavy metal can sound really awesome....
then you can get some that is pretensious and weak. I like it when a band
can mix it with softer melodic sections such as the brilliant Porcupine
Tree. They sem to be able to mix all the best of most styles together in
a beatiful way. I may well experiment with something heavier somewhere
in the future... nothing is out of the question.
12. WHICH SONG THAT YOU HAVE INCLUDED IN YOUR
NEW ALBUM TOOK YOU MOST TO COMPOSE AND WHY?
I took my time with every track ofcourse...
but "Every Second Counts" probably took the longest to mix and arrange.
I think I did it about four times before I was entirely happy. The way
the vocal samples and bass parts are timed and seperated over the first
section was a bit tricky. Many extra sounds were deleted in order to make
it easier to listen to.
13. WHICH WAS THE WEIRDEST QUESTION THAT PEOPLE
HAVE EVER ASKED YOU?
I can't really think of any weird questions
I have been asked... though the questions you have given me are very interesting
and make a pleasant change from the norm.
14. ALSO SINCE WE TALK ABOUT WEIRD THINGS… DO
YOU REMEMBER ANY WEIRD DESCRIPTION THAT YOU HAVE HEARD OR READ ABOUT YOUR
MUSIC?
I have seen my music described as being everything
from Peter Gabriel to Fish to Cat Weasle, to Micheal Stipe, to Paul Simon
and everything in between.
15. STEVE THANKS FOR YOUR TIME! HOPE MY QUESTIONS
DIDN’T TIRE YOU. THE LAST WORDS BELONG TO YOU AND GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR ALBUM.
I would like to say thank you to everyone
that has shown an interest in my work. I have received so many positive
reviews and remarks.... I have visited places where the locals have welcomed
me warmly and it has made what I am doing feel so worth while. Peace to
you all.
Kind regards, Steve Thorne.
Nick "William_Kidd"
Parastatidis
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